FOP picket plan gets mixed support

March 31, 2009

Plans by the Chicago Police Department's largest union to picket at City Hall Thursday have garnered mixed support from its brethren.

The Fraternal Order of Police, which represents about 8,000 patrol officers as well as detectives, intends to conduct informational picketing to protest lack of progress on its bargaining contract on the same day that the International Olympic Committee visits Chicago.

On Monday, the unions representing police lieutenants and captains said they support the FOP members' picket.

However, those unions are not telling their members to participate but rather leaving that up to their individual decisions, said Lt. Bob Weisskopf, president of the Chicago Police Lieutenants' Association.

And today the head of the sergeants union said his union voted not to support Thursday's picket for fear it could jeopardize its own contract negotiations. The union acknowledged the FOP's "frustrations" but said it's in a different position.

"Our situation is different," said Sgt. John Pallohusky, president of the Chicago Police Sergeants' Association. "Our board voted against supporting mainly because we perceive we're making progress in the negotiating process. ... If there are members who decide to do it, so be it. But we're not urging them."

The FOP is planning to conduct the picket at about 11 a.m. Thursday in hopes of sending a message to Mayor Richard Daley and Police Supt. Jody Weis that its members are unhappy with the lack of progress in contract talks, among other issues.